Bonnet-type head covering



' Aug. 18, 1964 L. L- GETTINGER BONNET-TYPE HEAD COVERING Filed Jan. 18, 1962 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,144,662 BfiNNET-TYPE HEAD COVERING Lillian L. Gettinger, 113 W. Conway St., Baltimore, Md. Filed Jan. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 167,115 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-204) This invention relates to bonnet-type head coverings, and is particularly concerned with the provision of a head covering adapted to enclose the hairdo of a woman without detracting from her appearance.

Various types of head coverings have heretofore been suggested, and while many of such head coverings have proved satisfactory in use, the female population of the United States is constantly in search of a new form of head covering adapted for use outside so as to cover the hairdo, and yet provide an attractive appearance to the user. In particular, there exists a need for an improved head covering which can be worn by a woman so as to maintain her hairdo in place while walking along the street, or while riding in a vehicle with the windows thereof open, or the top thereof removed.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved form of bonnet-type head covering adapted to enclose a ladys hairdo while at the same time yielding an attractive appearance. Still further, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved bonnet-type head covering so formed as to permit the fabrication thereof from either light-weight net or tulle for use under warm or mild weather conditions, or from a jersey material for use under inclement or cold weather conditions.

Even further, important, but more specific objects of the present invention are: (a) to provide such a head covering which is initially formed to provide a band extending about the forward marginal free edge thereof enhancing the appearance of the covering; ([2) to provide such a head covering which comprises a cap panel adapted to extend from the users neck over the ears and hairdo and at least adjacent the forehead of the user, and a flexible neck engaging band secured to such cap panel and carrying a buckle thereon which cooperates with the bank to maintain the cap panel in desired position; (0) to provide such a head covering wherein the buckle is carried on one folded-over end portion of the band, and the other end portion of the band is adapted to extend across the front of a users neck to cooperate with the buckle; (d) to provide such a head covering wherein the cap panel is shirred adjacent the lower rear edge thereof and stitched to the neck engaging band so as to provide the overall covering with increased flexibility and expansion potential whereby the same can accommodate hairdos of varying shapes and sizes; (e) to provide such a head covering which, when formed from jersey, serves to provide the necessary warmth without detracting from the users appearance or destroying the users hairdo; (f) to provide such a head covering which when formed from net or tulle type material, serves to adequately support a hairdo whereby the same is not flexed or destroyed or damaged under windy conditions; (g) to provide such a head covering, which when formed of any suitable material, maintains the users hair in relatively fixed position without unduly pressing thereagainst; and (h) to provide such a head covering which can be fabricated in accordance with mass production techniques, and from aavilable stock materials, to yield a quality product available at a comparatively inexpensive price.

The invention lies in the construction, arrangement, disposition, and assembly of the components of the bonnet-type head covering provided hereby, as will be more readily apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description 3,144,662 Patented Aug. 18, 1964 Ice refers to the annexed drawing presenting the preferred and illustrative embodiments of the invention, and wherein FIGURE 1 is a front view, partially broken away, showing a head covering constructed in accordance with the present invention as the same Would appear when secured on a users head;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental side view of the head covering shown in FIGURE 1 and presenting particularly the shirred lower rear portion of the cap panel thereof as secured to the neck engaging band thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmental detailed view of the lower front corner portion of one side of the head covering shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental detailed view showing the preferred form of buckle incorporated in the head covering of FIGURE 1, and the manner in which the same is secured to, and cooperates with the neck engaging band thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmental detailed view showing a modified form of one end portion of a neck engaging band utilized in a head covering constructed in accordance herewith;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmental sectional view of another form of neck engaging band utilized in a head covering constructed in accordance herewith; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 6,

but showing a fragment of the end portion of the neck engaging band presented in FIGURE 5.

If specific reference is now made to the drawing, and in particular FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the bonnettype head covering provided hereby is there shown as generally designated by the numeral 2. The head covering 2 includes a flexible cap panel 4 preferably comprising one piece of material. The cap panel 4 is adapted to extend from the users neck over the ears and hairdo and at least adjacent the forehead of the user, as shown. The head covering 2 further includes a flexible neck en gaging band 6 secured to the cap panel 4, and the neck engaging band 6 carries a buckle 8 adapted to cooperate With the free end 6(a) of the neck engaging band 6.

Now, having described the overall general assembly, attention can be directed to the individual components thereof. The neck engaging band 6, as best shown in FIGURE 2, is secured to the cap panel 4 intermediate the ends of the neck engaging band, and the cap panel 4 is sheared along the connection 12 between the neck engaging band and the cap panel. The connection 12, as shown in FIGURE 3, preferably comprises a doubled stitched seam 14 which extends along the length of the neck engaging band adjacent the direct connection thereof with the cap panel 4, and which preferably extends at least partially beyond opposite edges thereof, as at 16.

The neck engaging band 6 comprises a folded-over elongate panel having the free edges thereof preferably stitched in position along the seam 14. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the neck engaging band 6 is formed inside out, as with a conventional garment seam, and is then reversely turned so as to present a seam such as that designated by'the numeral,

18 in FIGURE 6. With this type scam, the neck engaging band 6 takes the form of a tubular element. It is to be understood, however, that with certain types of material, as where net or tulle is used, the free end portions of the neck engaging band extending beyond opposite sides of the cap panel need not be stitched at 18, and can be left free as shown in FIGURE 7.

As suggested above, the cap panel 4 is preferably formed from a single piece of material originally cut into a suitably shaped blank from either jersey or net stock. Regardless of the material used, the front lower side edge portions 20 of the cap panel 4 are folded over inwardly 3 as shown in FIGURE 2, and the lower end 22 of such side edge portions is stitched to the neck engaging band 6 also along the seam 14.

As should be apparent from the foregoing description, as well as the drawing, the neck engaging band has first and second end portions extending beyond opposite sides of the cap panel. The first end portion 6(a) is adapted to cooperate with the buckle 8, whereas the second end portion 6(b) carries the buckle 8.

As best shown in FIGURE 4, the buckle 8 is of the loop-type, and comprises an outer circular member 30 in the form of a ring, and a central post 32 extending diagonally across the ring. Actually, the ring 30 and post 32 are preferably formed integrally as a single plastic unit. In any event, it is to be understood that any suitable form of buckle can be used, regardless of size or shape, and the important point is to understand that a buckle is provided on the second end portion of the neck engaging band for cooperation with the first end portion 6(a) thereof.

In order to support the buckle 8 in position, the end portion 6(b) of the neck engaging band is folded backwardly upon itself and stitched to the adjacent portion thereof as at 34 thereby providing a loop extending around the post 30 and securing the buckle in position.

The first end portion 6(a) of the neck engaging band 6 has a length which is less than the length of the neck engaging band stitched directly to the cap panel 4. This relative dimensioning of the components is utilized in the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that certain modification can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. At the same time, it is important to note the particular dimensional relationship as this is an important feature of the present invention.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the length of the end portion 6(b) of the neck engaging banding is only a fraction of the length of the end portion 6(a) of such banding. With this construction, the appearance of the overall assembly is enhanced, and in operation the portion 6(a) can be passed through the respective openings on pposite sides of the posts 30 in the buckle, as shown in FIGURE 4, to secure the head covering in position.

While the side edge 40 of the folded-over side edge portion 20 has been shown as comprising a stitched scam in FIGURE 3, it is to be understood that this scam can be eliminated, as shown in FIGURE 5, in the event a net or other suitable non-fraying material is used.

If reference is again made to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the cap panel 4 is of sufiicient size to enclose a users hairdo. The shearing of the rear edge portion thereof along the connection 12 (FIGURE 2) permits the desired flexibility, as does the flexible material from which such panel is formed. The neck engaging band 6 is comparatively narrow with respect to the length of a normal users neck so that the same in effect forms a belt type securing means. The buckle is disposed, in accordance with the construction described above, to one side of the front of the users neck so as to not interfere with normal head movement, or otherwise cause discomfort.

In order to facilitate passing the free end portion 6(a) of the neck engaging hand through the openings in the buckle on opposite sides of the posts 32, preferably the end edge, at least, of the portion 6(a) is tapered as shown 6 in FIGURE 2, as well as in FIGURE 5. If the neck engaging banding is formed as a tubular type structure, in the manner explained above, then this tapered end comprises a closing of the tube. If, however, the neck engaging band is formed with the end portion 6(a) of the banding as shown in FIGURE 5, then preferably the end edge thereof is cut merely in a taper.

Although not specifically set forth hereinabove, it is to be noted that the front and top edge portions 50, 51, and 52 (FIGURE 1) are preferably formed by a foldedover edge portion of the cap panel 4. In other words, the folded-over portion designated by the numeral 20 in FIGURE 3 preferably is but part of a band extending around the entire forward edge of the utilimate head covering.

After reading the foregoing detailed description of the illustrative and preferred embodiments of the instant invention presented in the annexed drawings, various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art, which modifications do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A bonnet-type head covering comprising a flexible one piece cap panel adapted to extend from the neck of a user over the ears and hair and at least adjacent the forehead of the user, a flexible one piece neck engaging band secured to said cap panel, and a loop buckle having a center post and carried by said neck engaging band, said neck engaging band comprising a folded-over elongate panel stitched to the rear lower edge of said cap panel normally lying adjacent the users neck, said neck engaging band being narrow compared to the length of a normal users neck, said cap panel being shirred along the stitched connection therebetween with said neck engagr ing band, said cap panel having the front lower side edge portions thereof folded-over inwardly of the cap panel, the lower end of said front side edge portions being stitched to said neck engaging band, the front edge portion of said panel being selectively foldable inwardly to cover varying degrees of the forward part of a users head, said neck engaging band having first and second end portions extending beyond opposite sides of said cap panel, said second end portion being a minor fraction of the length of said first end portion, said second end portion being folded-over backwardly upon itself and stitched to the adjacent portion thereof to provide a loop extending around said post and securing said buckle in position, said first end portion having a length less than the length of said neck engaging band stitched directly to said cap panel and being tapered at the end thereof, said first end of the folded-over elongate panel being stitched along the free edges thereof adjacent said cap panel along a fractional length of said neck engaging band whereby the free edges of said tapered end portion are free from one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 440,005 Butler Nov. 4, 1890 1,203,870 Hallam et al Nov. 7, 1916 1,508,702 Lark Sept. 16, 1924 2,574,558 Graber et al. Nov. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,229,457 France Mar. 21, 1960 366,393 Germany Jan. 9, 1923 859,283 Germany Dec. 11, 1952 

